High-fidelity simulations of periodic turbulent boundary layers at high Reynolds numbers

Spatially evolving boundary layers are among the most significant canonical flows in fluid mechanics. Their behavior critically influences the aerodynamic efficiency of aircraft, road vehicles, ships, and even wind turbines through the atmospheric boundary layer. Due to the immense computational demands of simulating spatially-developing turbulent boundary layers, there has been increasing interest in periodic-based solutions. While these solutions are widely used for channel and pipe flows, they are less commonly applied to boundary layers.

In this study, we present a comprehensive theoretical and numerical analysis of periodic turbulent boundary layer flows, examining their statistical similarity to canonical spatially evolving turbulent boundary layers. We performed Direct and Large-Eddy Simulations at Reynolds numbers up to 8,300 (based on the momentum thickness), demonstrating that it is possible to achieve excellent agreement with reference data for spatially-evolving turbulent boundary layers regarding the primary quantities of interest.